A method for the quality estimation of musk in Japanese Pharmacopoeia, based on the determination of characteristic components, was investigated. By preparative thin-layer chromatography of ether extract, fractions containing muscone and a group of C19-steroids were separated and gas chromatographically analyzed. For the determination of muscone, cyclopentadecanone was found to be an excellent internal standard. The content of C19-steroids was determined after chromic acid oxidation leading to androstane-3, 17-diones. Application of the present method to the samples from various sources indicated it was most reliable for quality classification.
